Providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric to customers

ABSTRACT

Among various methods and systems, a number of methods are disclosed for providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric to customers. One such method includes binding a first number of halogen atoms to a number of halogen-binding links that are bound to a fabric before the fabric is provided to a customer. The method also includes retrieving the fabric after a period of time in order to recharge a second number of halogen atoms that remains bound to the fabric to a level approximating the first number of halogen atoms.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for cleaning and disinfecting fabrics in order to provide such fabrics to customers for use in particular industries and other services. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for supplying a microbiocidal capability to such fabrics and a laundry process that cleans the fabrics and recharges the microbiocidal capability.

BACKGROUND

Articles having one or more portions formed from fabric may, in various circumstances, be supplied by a provider of such fabric-containing articles to customers involved in certain industrial or commercial activities. For instance, garments may be provided for many different service providers and industrial applications where workers are given garments, such as uniforms, protective clothing, or the like, for purposes of personal safety, product safety, cleanliness, service and/or brand identification, and many other practical reasons. A service industry exists for delivering clean fabrics, such as garments, to facilities in many such industries and services and for subsequently picking up soiled or used fabrics, replacing them with clean fabrics, and laundering the soiled fabrics as part of a cycle for reusing such fabrics.

The use of certain laundering chemicals, like bleach, wash solution alkalinity, and high temperature water, may inhibit growth of or kill certain microbes when the fabric has been returned to the laundering processing facility and after the fabric has undergone laundry processing. However, such laundering is ineffective in controlling survival or potential growth of such microbes during time intervals when the fabric is in possession of a customer and is available for its intended use by the customer. Hence, contaminated fabric may be a reservoir for cross-contamination while in possession of the customer between occurrences of laundry processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a servicing system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a service process for use in processing fabrics according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a method for providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example formula from a number of low intensity wash formulas according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example formula from a number of high intensity wash formulas according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a method for binding chloride ion-binding links to a fabric according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example formula for binding chloride ion-binding links to a fabric according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Customers of providers of fabric-containing articles may purchase or lease a sufficient quantity of such fabric-containing articles in order to, for instance, supply clean garments on a periodic basis to employees involved in certain industrial or commercial activities. Such garments may, for example, include uniforms, shirts, pants, smocks, frocks, coats, suits, coveralls, aprons, gloves, headwear, protective apparel, performance apparel, and/or footwear, among other possible garments, that have at least one portion formed from fabric. Other fabric-containing articles supplied by such providers can include, for example, napkins, tablecloths, rags, towels, linens, mats, performance fabric, and/or removable door sleeves, among other fabric-containing articles, that have at least one portion formed from fabric. As appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, performance apparel and performance fabric can include a number of articles adapted for performance of a particular activity that may require enhanced durability, flexibility, longevity, and the like. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the term “article,” as used herein, is not intended to be limiting and should be understood to include the just-described items and other fabric-containing items that can be laundered or otherwise processed in a provider's and/or commercial launderer's facilities for a customer.

Such fabric-containing articles may be returned periodically to the provider for cleaning by a laundering process at a laundry processing facility and may be returned to the customer as intended for a particular use, which may be the same use to which the original fabric-containing article was applied. In some circumstances, supplying such fabric-containing articles to a particular customer and having them returned by the customer for laundry processing may result in the reusable fabric-containing article eventually being returned by the provider to the particular customer to whom the fabric-containing article was originally provided, thereby forming a cycle, or the reusable fabric-containing article may be supplied by the provider to a different customer after laundering.

The laundering process may include washing and drying steps for fabric portions of such fabric-containing articles that are selective based upon the type of fabric-containing articles to be laundered. Such selectivity may, for instance, include a sorting of fabric-containing articles to be laundered in different ways based upon factors including a particular intended use for the particular fabric-containing articles, a particular customer to whom the fabric-containing articles will be supplied, colors, durability, and/or classification of the dirt and/or stains (e.g., soiling) on the fabric-containing articles, among other determinants. For example, fabric-containing articles used in the food service and/or hospital industries may have differing laundering regimens applied thereto than fabric-containing articles associated with another industry, such as hospitality, product and/or service sales, and/or a delivery business, among others. The selection may also apply to particular wash parameters of such laundering processes (i.e., wash formulas), of which a service may have a number of different wash formulas that may be selectively implemented on a selected type of fabric-containing articles.

Parameters of a selective wash formula may include water temperature, wash time, chemistry, and mechanical action, among other parameters. Chemistry refers to the use of particular quantities of detergents and other cleaning additives, for instance, bleach, conditioners, and/or alkalinity adjusters, and the like. Other chemical additives may sometimes be added based upon a specific cleaning formula desired for a particular soil removal process and/or as required by a particular customer. Wash time controls may include not only the wash time length, but also the timing aspects of the chemical delivery and the mechanical action. Moreover, many different types of cleaning equipment (e.g., washers and dryers) are commercially available with many different mechanical agitation wash cycles, manners of movement of the contents within the cleaning equipment during the wash and/or drying processes, and/or ways of transferring of the contents between the various steps of the laundering process. In some commercial washing machines, the chemicals that are added, such as the detergents, bleach, conditioners, alkali, and other additives, may be injected into a temperature controlled water supply to be active within the washing compartment of the washing machine based upon a selected wash formula.

The laundering steps for a selective type of garments, for instance, may be controlled to include the wash formula with the wash timing aspects, such as wash and rinse periods and the number and/or duration thereof. Likewise, the drying of the garments may be controlled for selective types of dryers, drying temperatures, and/or time aspects.

A type of fabrics, such as garments, may be characterized by the industry within which the fabrics are used. For instance, coveralls usable within the semiconductor processing industry may require a laundry process to remove possible particulate contaminants, and clothing worn within the automotive repair industry may require a laundry process to clean off particular contaminants containing oil, silicone, and grease. In some circumstances, garments worn in certain food processing industries, for instance, meat processing and/or dairy production, may require the removal of organic matter introduced by dirtying and/or staining with blood and/or dairy (e.g., soiling with such material, among other biological matter) that may contain microbes that contaminate the fabric of the garment and which may cross-contaminate the wearer of such a garment and/or downstream individuals, articles, or surfaces.

Accordingly, a laundering process may be modified based upon such a type classification to develop a wash formula that will remove the required matter, soil, and/or contaminants by adjusting parameters such as detergents, alkalinity, bleach, water temperature, wash/rinse cycle timing, duration aspects, and the like. Moreover, combinations of particular parameters and the wash formulas using such parameters can be controlled within one or more washing machines by utilizing, in various embodiments, software, hardware, and/or firmware (e.g., one or more processors, such as microprocessors, logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits, and the like) that can be associated with memory having instructions stored thereon and which can be executed to control and deliver multiple wash formulas and from which a desired wash formula can be selected.

For instance, the food service industry is a specialty industry, like many others, that raises distinct considerations for laundering. Food processing differs from many other industrial or commercial activities in that soiling (e.g., food stains and/or food matter and/or moisture on fabric) of a garment, for example, can provide a substrate conducive for survival or multiplication of microbes, in particular bacteria, that may be considered contaminants in food processing and may potentially contribute to food safety issues. In addition, the food service industry includes food processes for baked goods and other prepared food producers, food packers and packagers, food preparers like bakers and cooks in production facilities as well as in food service caterers and restaurants, food retailers, wholesalers and service providers, grocery stores, and the like. Hence, embodiments of the present disclosure include wash formulas that have been developed in particular for the purpose of reducing the survival of microbes, including particular bacteria, on fabric-containing articles after laundering and to enable delivery of such sanitized fabrics to customers, for instance, within the food service industry.

According to the present disclosure, methods and systems are disclosed for providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric to customers. One such method includes binding a first number of halogen atoms to a number of halogen-binding links that are bound to a fabric before the fabric is provided to a customer. The method also includes providing a service for retrieving the fabric after a period of time in order to recharge a second number of halogen atoms that remains bound to the fabric to a level approximating the first number of halogen atoms. Such methods can, in various embodiments, enable the fabric to have rechargeable microbiocidal capability due to the halogen atoms being reversibly bound to the halogen-binding links, which allows microbes in the vicinity of the fabric to uptake the halogen atoms and be killed by the toxic effects of the halogen atoms.

In the present disclosure, reference is made to accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration how one or more embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical/electronic, computer processing/control logic/application-specific integrated circuitry and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is discussed and illustrated herein using a number of example fabric-containing articles being provided to a customer by a provider, possessed by the customer for a period of time during which the fabric-containing articles may be used for an intended purpose, and subsequently retrieved by the provider and processed by the provider using a commercial laundry process in accordance with the present disclosure. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. Aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to other processes and uses which may benefit from rechargeable halogen-binding fabric methodologies and systems set forth herein.

Businesses, industries, and/or organizations may provide fabric-containing articles to their workers, members, and/or customers. Garments, for instance, may include uniforms to identify a person as an employee of the business, or member of the organization, to communicating a brand image of the business or organization, as a benefit of employment or membership, and/or to ensure cleanliness of attire in an efficient, standardized, and convenient manner (e.g., as a means of ensuring that fabric-containing articles are processed, cleaned, and/or sanitized according to applicable requirements and/or preferences). Certain businesses, industries, and/or organizations may also provide specialized garments (e.g., clean room attire, protective garments, garments including performance fabric, and/or garments cleaned to certain standards, and the like) as determined by specific processing steps conducted by the businesses, industries, and/or organizations.

In food preparation and processing environments, an employer and/or regulating authority, for instance, may impose specific guidelines for use, cleansing, and/or sanitizing of fabric-containing articles, such as garments and the like. In some cases, regulations and/or laws may set certain minimum guidelines as well. Sanitization requirements, such as for production of microelectronics, in health care facilities, and in food processing facilities, among others, may require particular garments having microbial contamination reduced to low levels in order to prevent contaminants from being introduced into a clean room setting, into a surgical area, into a food processing area, among other instances, in order to prevent microbial contamination of products, patients, and/or workers therein.

Particular fabric-containing articles may be obtained by a customer (e.g., a business, industry, and/or organization) from a commercial provider, which may also provide laundering, sanitizing, alterations, repair, replacement, and/or other article processing services. The provider may initially procure and deliver the fabric-containing articles to the customer for use. Arrangements may be made with the provider to pick-up such fabric-containing articles after a predetermined period of time (e.g., which may be for retrieval of used and/or soiled garments), process the fabric-containing articles (e.g., launder, clean, sanitize, repair, replace, etc.) and return the fabric-containing articles to the customer (e.g., to one or more of the customer's facilities). Processing and provider facilities may launder, sterilize, and/or process fabric-containing articles so as to provide rechargeable halogen-binding capacity to reduce microbial contamination.

FIG. 1 illustrates a servicing system according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. A system for delivery of fabric-containing articles may begin with reception of an initial order from a customer. The order could include, for instance, various portions of a uniform or of complete sets of garments to be used together by an employee. Such garments may be those that are worn over the employee's own clothing or that are donned at the customer's facility in place of the employee's own clothing.

The provider may assemble the various parts of the order for delivery to the customer from clean fabric-containing articles obtained from a third party fabric supplier and/or from existing inventory of clean fabric-containing articles. In some circumstances, a customer may be given the option to fill orders from the provider's inventory of previously used, although clean, fabric-containing articles. Previously used fabric-containing articles may be supplied at a discount relative to new fabric-containing articles. The fabric-containing portions of the articles may have a number of rechargeable halogen-binding links bound to the fabric, as further described herein, prior to delivery of the fabric-containing portions to the processing and provider facility (e.g., by the fabric supplier) and/or by the processing and provider facility itself. In some situations, the fabric supplier and the processing and provider facility may be associated with the same business organization.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a system for computerization and automation of the route service functions for a supply process for providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric to a number of customers. As shown in FIG. 1, a servicing system 100 can include one or more processing and provider facilities 115, which can, in various embodiments, include service equipment 110A, such as laundering equipment to provide laundering services, inventory storage areas 110B, and/or loading docks 110C. Servicing system 100 can further include, in various embodiments, a one or more route service vehicles 120 that may be any form of vehicle, although often may be a truck capable of transporting supplies and other items to and from supplied facilities 130-1, 130-2, and 130-3.

Supplied facilities 130-1, 130-2, and 130-3 are not limited to a particular total number of manufacturing, industrial, educational, health-care, restaurant, and/or food processing, among other, facilities. Fabric supply facilities 105 may be owned and/or operated by the processing and provider facilities 115. Supplied facilities 130-1, 130-2, and 130-3 also may be owned and/or operated by the processing and provider facilities 115.

According to one example embodiment, one or more route service vehicles 120 can be used by a number of route service representatives (RSRs) 150 from the number of processing and provider facilities 115 to work with facility representatives (FRs) 160 at supplied facilities 130-1, 130-2, and 130-3 on a route 140 to supply fabric-containing articles 135-1, 135-2, and 135-3 associated with the supplied facilities 130-1, 130-2, and 130-3. The RSRs 150, among other functions, can deliver clean fabric-containing articles 135-1, 135-2, and 135-3 that include bound halogen-binding links charged with halogen atoms, pick up fabric-containing articles that have been at the supplied facilities for a determined period of time for cleaning and recharging with halogen atoms (e.g., fabric-containing articles that have been used in association with business operated by the facility and/or by facility workers and which may be soiled as a result), add/delete/change supplies ordered and/or used by the facility, and/or provide an invoice following service. In various embodiments, RSRs 150 can be encouraged to use particular communication protocols between the RSR 150 and the FRs 160.

Servicing system 100 can further utilize, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a computer system 170. Computer system 170 may include one or more servers 170A and data storage units 170B connected to client computers 170C associated with recording and processing past, present, and future transactions with particular clients at the supplied facilities 130-1, 130-2, and 130-3 (or in other embodiments, other computing device configurations can be utilized, such as a single computer that handles records and processing for all the supplied facilities and clients) through a local network 170D in each of the processing and provider facilities. Servers 170A and data storage units 170B can, in various embodiments, work in conjunction to form an enterprise management application 180 that stores data that may be used in order to automate the process of servicing and supplying the supplied facilities 130-1, 130-2, and 130-3 by the processing and provider facilities 115.

One or more portable client computers 170H may be implemented as hand-held or lap-top units that can communicate, in some embodiments, remotely with the processing and provider facilities 115. Such units may communicate with the servers 170A through a wide area network 1 70E and a wireless transmission facility 170F that sends and receives wireless signals 170G. At least one of the portable client computers 170H may be used as a RSR 150 work station. In addition, system 100 can include at least one docking station (not shown) that may make a wireless connection to a hand held unit 170-H or be connected by a hard wired cradle-type connection.

The fabric-containing articles retrieved by the RSRs 150 and loaded onto the route service vehicles 120 can be returned along the route 140 to the processing and provider facilities 115. The retrieved fabric-containing articles can be unloaded from the route service vehicles 120 at the loading docks 110C. In various embodiments, the unloaded fabric-containing articles can be sorted by article type and identified by article tagging, which can be used to determine assignment to particular wash formulas during laundering, as described in further detail herein. In some embodiments, the fabric-containing articles sorted by type and identified by article tagging also can be sorted by weight, which can be used to determine assignment to particular wash formulas during laundering, as described in further detail herein. In such embodiments, the sorted fabric-containing articles may be stored based upon such sort criteria prior to undergoing laundering using the assigned particular wash formulas. Storage may be performed in an inventory storage area 110B, which may be contiguous with or separate from inventory areas used for fabric-containing articles that have already been laundered and have had their halogen-binding links recharged with halogen atoms and/or inventory areas used for the supplied fabric 105 that came from outside the processing and provider facilities 115.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a service process for use in processing fabrics according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a representative service cycle 200 for providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric to customers. The service cycle 200 illustrated includes fabric processing where halogen-binding links bound to the fabric portion of the fabric-containing article are recharged with halogen atoms after possibly being depleted of such halogen atoms during the period in which the fabric-containing article was in possession of the customer and/or has been undergoing laundry processing.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example embodiment of a particualr service cycle 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. However, the cycle can be modified in accordance with provider, processor, customer, and/or regulatory body specifications as may be desirable or required for a particular application. The particular processing procedures (e.g., particular customized wash, dry, and/or finish formulas) for any particular application can likewise be modified to adjust to the particular processes and protocols that ensure compliance of the outcomes to the provider, processor, customer, and/or regulatory body requirements.

As shown in FIG. 2, the service cycle 200 is schematically illustrated as starting from the delivery of clean fabric (i.e., a fabric-containing article) to a customer, as indicated at box 212. Box 214 indicates the retrieval of fabric from the customer after a period of time in possession of the customer, during which the fabric was available for use for an intended purpose. During this time period, the fabric may have become soiled, thereby requiring cleaning before further use and/or the number of halogen atoms bound to the halogen-binding links of the fabric may have been at least partially depleted through microbiocidal activity and/or normal wear, among other reasons.

As part of retrieving the fabric-containing article from the customer, the fabric-containing article may, in some embodiments, be loaded within a transportation vehicle, such as truck, illustrated at box 216. The fabric-containing articles that are delivered and retrieved can be fabric-containing articles as may be applicable to the field of use of the customer. These may be provided in containers of any particular variety or may be loosely loaded for transportation as desired. However, it is preferable that, for fabric-containing articles to be processed in accordance with the present disclosure, such fabric-containing articles be contained in an approved container and/or wrapping (e.g., plastic shrink-wrap) as may be determined between the customer and the provider and/or processing facility to ensure proper handling, processing, and/or sterility of the fabric-containing articles.

A system as illustrated in FIG. 2 may include features for purposes of identification and/or for isolation of the fabric-containing articles. For example, the container may be color-coded and/or provided with specific markings, indicia, tags or the like to identify the fabric-containing articles contained therein as being designated for a particular process in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g., particular customized wash, dry, and/or finish formulas). Or, a different size, shape, type, and/or configuration for a container can be utilized for such purpose. Moreover, such a container may be open or closed, but preferably a container for use in accordance with the present disclosure is closable to maintain the fabric-containing articles isolated from others and the environment at the customers facility, in transport, and/or in the processing facility. Containers are also preferably easily sanitizable so that the containers do not add to the provision of any microbes to the fabric-containing articles transported therein.

After one or more fabric-containing articles, for example, placed within containers, are loaded within a transport vehicle, such as a delivery truck, the fabric-containing articles can be transported and delivered to the provider and/or processing facility, as illustrated by box 218 in FIG. 2. It is contemplated that for a more restrictive compliance process as may be desired by a provider, processor, customer, and/or regulatory body, a dedicated vehicle can be utilized for this purpose. Such a dedicated vehicle can be specific or restricted based on the field of use of the fabric-containing articles, such as for food services, or may comprise only a portion of a vehicle as such may be partitioned or otherwise sectioned from the vehicle area that is utilized for other fabric-containing articles on a customer basis and/or service field basis. In some embodiments, the transport vehicle may be configured to enable sterilization of the fabric-containing article carrying interior space.

Containers that are to be identified on a customer basis, field of use basis, a provider basis or other basis can include tags, colors, indicia, and/or other markings for such identification purpose, which may be incorporated within a tamper evident feature. It is also contemplated that the vehicle storage area can be secured by tamper evident features in a similar manner as that with respect to the containers for the fabric-containing articles. The transportation step, labeled as box 218 in FIG. 2, may instead comprise merely loading the fabric-containing articles in the vehicle in any containers or without any specific container.

FIG. 2 next shows the optional steps of unloading the fabric-containing articles and sorting the fabric-containing articles by type, noted as box 220, and of storing the fabric-containing articles by type and/or weight of fabric-containing articles, as noted as box 222, before further processing (e.g., laundering). In various embodiments, the unloading, sorting by type and/or weight, and/or storing of the fabric-containing articles can be performed all at once, sequentially, or certain portions thereof can be removed from the procedure (e.g., storing). Once the fabric-containing articles are unloaded or removed from any container, the fabric-containing articles are preferably sorted according to the type of fabric-containing articles. For example, where shirts and pants are collectively transported, they may be separated at step 220. However, the fabric-containing articles may not be sorted at all.

The storing step 222 can include procedures for gathering a proper quantity by weight of sorted fabric-containing articles in preparation for washing in accordance with the capacity of laundering equipment (e.g., a washing machine and/or dryer) to be used in subsequent laundering steps. That is, the sorted fabric-containing articles can be separated into lots for washing. Such fabric-containing articles may or may not be combined with other fabric-containing articles (potentially from other customers) in preparing lots suitable for a washing machine's capacity and/or a dryer's capacity. In some embodiments, the lots are weighed to meet load limitations of the washing machine and/or the dryer.

At this stage, fabric-containing articles requiring special handling (e.g., particular washing and/or drying conditions) can be separated from the other fabric-containing articles. For example, a fabric-containing article may be identified as needing a special wash treatment to remove particular soiling not normally expected from the industry and/or service of that particular customer, in which case, it may require special handling, washing, and tracking. In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, to ensure proper processing to a particular customer, in particular where differing levels of microbial contamination control are expected and implemented, keeping different customer's fabric-containing articles separated from one another may be performed during the storing and/or washing steps, and subsequently, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Laundering of the various types of fabric-containing articles is conducted within washing step 224, halogen atom recharging step 225, and drying/finishing step 226, as shown in FIG. 2, of which each process can, in some embodiments, be microprocessor controlled. A wash formula can be controlled by one or more microprocessors so as to inject particular amounts of chemicals and additives at appropriate stages of the wash cycle, of which wash, rinse, and/or mechanical agitation aspects can also be controlled. Such wash formulas can also include the time and/or temperature aspects of the wash water and chemicals as well as the timing of the wash cycles, including agitation aspects and the like. In accordance with the present disclosure, to minimize and/or reduce the presence of microbes on the fabric-containing articles below a threshold value, a particular wash formula can be selected for that purpose.

As such, step 224 represents the application of a particular wash formula to a specific classification of fabric-containing articles to be effectively laundered, in some embodiments, in a microprocessor-controlled fashion, consistent with the expectations of the provider, processor, customer, and/or regulatory body. In the case of the food industry, for example, the removal and/or killing of specified bacteria may be important. The washing step 224 may also include sub-steps of pre-washing for soiling and/or microbe removal, as such soilings and/or microbes may be of types expected from that customer based upon its business, industry, organization, or otherwise. Also, it is understood that a wash formula may be further specified according to the type of soiling and/or microbe that may be encountered based upon a specific subset of soil types. For example, in meat processing, a different wash formula may be applied based on the type of meat being processed, such as differently between beef, pork, lamb, poultry, fish, or the like, and/or based on the exposure of the worker to other soiling materials like food dyes, or the like, soilings from such also possibly being carriers of and associated with particular types of microbes.

Such wash formulas can include at least a detergent (e.g., a non-phosphorous detergent), an alkalinity agent, oxidizers (e.g., bleach), and can utilize softened water at a temperature in an approximate range (e.g., from 140 degrees to 180 degrees Fahrenheit (° F.)). An active bleach is also utilized at an effective amount for sanitization, and the wash solution pH is controlled to be alkaline (e.g., at a pH of ten or greater). After effectively removing significant microbial contaminants during the wash process, a number of rinses with water can be conducted such that the fabric-containing articles can, in some embodiments, leave the washing machine having a pH of between 5.5 and 7.2.

Different wash formulas are known and have been developed for the purpose of reducing specific microbes, like bacteria, fungi, and/or protozoa during the laundering process. Such wash formulas include the use and timing of controlled water temperature, detergents, bleaches, pH (alkalinity) control, and/or the use of other additives. Various specific formulas for washing the fabric-containing articles for the purpose of reducing one or more classes of microbes may be used with embodiments of the present disclosure. Such commercially available detergents, additives, and other formula factors can change from time to time as commercially available chemicals are developed.

In one or more embodiments, microbiocidal bleaches containing sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), including those certified as being toxic to particular pathogens by a regulatory agency such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, can be utilized in washing and sanitizing the fabric-containing articles. As described in further detail below, the hypochlorite anion (OCl⁻) can serve as a donor of a halogen atom (i.e., a chloride ion Cl⁻) to recharge halogen-binding links in the fabric-containing articles during the laundering process, as illustrated in box 225 of FIG. 2. The process of recharging the halogen-binding links bound to the fabric may be performed according to microprocessor-controlled formulas.

Box 226 represents drying of the fabric-containing articles when transported from the washing machine to a dryer and as dried sufficiently for further processing of the fabric-containing articles. Like the washing process, the fabric-containing articles can be dried in accordance with the fabric-containing article type, which also may be dedicated to a specific process according to microprocessor-controlled formulas. The weight capacity of the particular dryer may be the determinant of load size in the washing and/or halogen-recharging steps of the laundering process. Such load size can be determined, at least in part, by the weight of each item of the fabric-containing article, the number of which can be determined by storing such articles in lots of a particular weight. The drying can, in some embodiments, be conducted in accordance with recommendations of, for example, the garment manufacturer for the specific garment in question, which may further take into account any suggested finishing procedures (e.g., conditioning and the like).

Box 228, as illustrated in FIG. 2, shows inspection of the fabric-containing portion of the fabric-containing article (which also may include inspection of non-fabric portions) for the purpose of checking for any particular repairs, unremoved portions of soiling, and/or fabric-containing articles that need replacement for these or other reasons. In particular, the inspection step 228 can include an inspection of each fabric-containing article per acceptability standards as may be determined by the provider, processor, customer, and/or regulatory body or by mutual agreement by at least two of these parties.

A decision step is illustrated at 234. If a repair is to be performed, that fabric-containing article can be removed and sent to a repair/replacement station (not shown). The fabric-containing article would then be repaired according to developed standards. Examples of fabric-containing article repair-related failures include garments showing significant signs of damage, missing or broken buttons or straps, damaged zippers, rips or tears, and/or holes, and the like. Likewise, if it is determined that a fabric-containing article is so damaged to be in need of replacement, it could be sent to the repair/replacement station for replacement. Subsequent to a decision to repair or replace, the repaired or replacement fabric-containing article can be resubmitted into the wash step 224 as indicated by the line labeled No for not passing the inspection. Also, as part of the inspection step 228, each fabric-containing article can be checked for soilings that may still exist after being laundered and in accordance with standards set by the provider, the processor, and/or the customer.

If it is determined in step 234 that a remaining soiling is unacceptable, the fabric-containing article can, in some embodiments, be sent to a stain treatment station (not shown). There, a fabric-containing article that exhibits such a soiling can be stain treated by stain removal procedures and subsequently resubmitted to the wash step 224. Each fabric-containing article can also be checked for foreign object contamination that may, for example, be present in pockets or the like. If a foreign object contaminant is found, it may be preferable at decision step 234 to resubmit the fabric-containing article to the wash step 224. A fabric-containing article that has been subjected to washing again at 224 may or may not repeat the halogen-recharging step at 225 and the dry/finish step at 226.

Fabric-containing articles that pass the inspection process at 234 can be forwarded to a preparation station 242 wherein each fabric-containing article is prepared to be sent to the customer in accordance with agreed-upon specifications. In some cases, the fabric-containing articles may be packaged or packed within containers, which containers can be sanitized in accordance one or more provider, processor, and/or customer standards, or the fabric-containing articles may be prepared by being hung on hangers or folded. The use of new hangers may be chosen over recycled hangers to reduce the risk of contaminant introduction. Where the fabric-containing article are to be packaged in a container, they may first be packaged in a plastic wrap or the like to reduce the risk of contamination.

Such containers may include features and/or be constructed of materials that are contamination-resistant for delivery of the fabric-containing articles to the customer. When fabric-containing articles are provided on hangers, folded, or packed and wrapped, the bundles of fabric-containing articles can be packed within a container and/or plastic wrap for delivery to the customer. For hanging fabric-containing articles, other appropriate containers are contemplated that include features for hanging fabric-containing articles within containers and permitting shipping thereof back to the supplied customer facility in sterile condition. Fully prepared fabric-containing articles can then be put into a clean storage station (not shown) in preparation for a subsequent delivery 246, as shown in FIG. 2, of the cleaned and halogen-recharged fabric-containing articles back to the customer to which the fabric-containing articles were originally supplied, and from which they were retrieved, or to a different customer or customers.

In one or more parts of the processing after the laundering steps, mechanized systems may be used for transporting the fabric-containing articles from station to station or the fabric-containing articles can be transported manually. For example, automatic systems can be used to move fabric-containing articles, such as provided on hangers, from station to station and/or for tracking each fabric-containing article, such as with a bar code, radio-frequency identification (RFID), or the like. Also, certain processing stations can be integrated into such an automated system, such as for moving the fabric-containing articles at a controlled timing, temperature, humidity, and/or other environmental controls. To further minimize the possibility of contamination from below, it has been contemplated to design carts to facilitate transport that are easily cleanable and to design support element surfaces so as to exhibit easily cleanable flat surfaces without structures to catch dirt or other contaminants.

Within the service cycle 200 illustrated in FIG. 2, a number of laundry process embodiments can be utilized for laundering fabric-containing articles. In particular, the washing 224, halogen-recharging 225, and drying/finishing 226 of fabric-containing articles having a number of halogen-binding links already bound to the fabric can be performed in various embodiments, selection from which can be influenced by the fabric type, density, and/or weight in the fabric portion of the fabric-containing article, the perceived, anticipated, and or actual degree of soiling of the particular fabric-containing articles, the intended purpose to which the fabric-containing articles were or could have been employed while in possession of the customer, and/or the type of halogen atom with which the halogen-binding links are to be recharged, among various other parameters.

The types of fibers that can be utilized in forming the fabric-containing portions of the fabric-containing articles, to which halogen-binding links previously have been bound, can include, by way of example and not by way of limitation, natural fibers (e.g., cotton, linen, wool, and hemp, among others) that substantially contribute 100% to the fabric formed therefrom, artificial/synthetic fibers (e.g., acetate, acrylic, polyester, rayon, and spandex, among others) that substantially contribute 100% to the fabric formed therefrom. Mixtures of such fibers, to which halogen-binding links have previously been bound or subsequently will be bound, also can be utilized to make up various percentages of the fabric formed therefrom (e.g., a blend of 60% polyester fibers with 40% cotton fibers, among others). The density of the fibers and/or weight of the fabric utilized in the fabric-containing articles can, in various circumstances, be adjusted based upon the use to which the fabric-containing articles are intended by the customer.

The intensity of laundry processing (e.g., concentrations of and/or lengths of exposures to alkalis, detergents, conditioners, and/or bleaches, among other laundering products) can at least be partially determined by the perceived, anticipated, and/or actual degree of soiling of the particular fabric-containing articles and/or the intended purpose to which the fabric-containing articles were or could have been employed while in possession of the customer, among other factors. In some embodiments, parameters affecting the intensity of laundry processing can be stored for executing (e.g., as previously described) various wash formulas to be at least partially automatically applied to control actions of the laundry equipment and/or introduction of various laundry products (e.g., concentration of and/or length of exposure to alkali, detergent, conditioner, and/or bleach, among others) into the laundry process.

For example, white service coats and/or gloves used by workers while in the “slaughter area” of a meat processing facility may actually have, or be expected to have, been heavily soiled (e.g., with blood, urine, feces, particles of meat, etc.) while in possession of the customer before being retrieved to the laundry processing facility. As such, one or more specific wash formulas can, in various embodiments, be formulated to be executed in laundering the fabric of such potentially heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles that have higher intensity of certain parameters (e.g., concentration of and/or length of exposure to alkali, detergent, conditioner, and/or bleach, among others) than formulas to be executed in laundering fabric-containing articles that may actually be, or be expected to be, less heavily soiled during their intended use. By way of example and not by way of limitation, general food service garments that are white or other colors and that are used, for instance, in restaurants, grocery stores, and/or hospitals, among like facilities, may be assigned to one or more specific formulas with lower intensity of certain parameters (e.g., concentration of and/or length of exposure to alkali, detergent, conditioner, and/or bleach, among others) to be executed in laundering, which are premised upon the expectation that the garments are less heavily soiled.

Recharging the halogen-binding links bound to the fabric, as shown in box 225 of FIG. 2, can utilize a number of formulas that are stored (e.g., in software, hardware, and/or firmware) for executing (e.g., using a microprocessor) various operations that can differ depending upon which halogen atom (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and/or iodine), or ion derived therefrom (e.g., fluoride, chloride, bromide, and/or iodide), is to be bound to the halogen-binding links. In various embodiments, the halogen-binding links may or may not be specific for one or more of the halogen atoms and/or ions. In some embodiments, chloride ions can be provided for recharging the halogen-binding links from an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), which is the active component of household “chlorine bleach”. As such, bleaches with potentially varying concentrations of the active sodium hypochlorite molecule can, in some embodiments, be used in a number of laundering steps for brightening the fabric, sanitizing the fabric, and/or recharging the halogen-binding links bound to the fabric.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a method for providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Unless explicitly stated, the method embodiments are not constrained to a particular order or sequence. Additionally, some of the described method embodiments, or elements thereof, can occur or be performed at the same, or at least substantially the same, point in time.

Method embodiment elements, as recited in particular claims of the present disclosure, can be executed, recorded, and/or controlled by one or more logic components such as a printed circuit board, a Flash drive, and/or an application-specific integrated circuit, among other such implementations, and/or by computing device-executable instructions stored on software and/or firmware, and the like, and executed by processors, such as microprocessors and the like. A system implementing embodiments of the methodology can include logic components and/or computing device-executable instructions as just described, and the like, to perform, or assist in performing, executing, recording, and/or controlling particular elements of such a system.

Methods, formulas, and/or systems as described in the present disclosure can be utilized for providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric to customers. One such method includes, as illustrated at 310 in FIG. 3, binding a first number of halogen atoms to a number of halogen-binding links that are bound to a fabric before the fabric is provided to a customer. As shown at 320, the method also includes providing a service for providing a service for retrieving the fabric after a period of time in order to recharge a second number of halogen atoms that remains bound to the fabric to a level approximating the first number of halogen atoms. Such methods can, in various embodiments, include retrieving the fabric from the first customer to which the fabric was provided. The recharged halogen-binding fabric can, in various embodiments, be provided back to the first customer or to a second customer differing from the first customer.

Providing the rechargeable halogen-binding fabric to the customer can include providing a fabric having a microbiocidal capability resulting from the first number of halogen atoms being bound to the number of halogen-binding links. The microbiocidal capability of the fabric can include reversibly binding the first number of halogen atoms to the number of halogen-binding links. Reversibly binding the first number of halogen atoms to the number of halogen-binding links can enable the microbiocidal capability by allowing microbes in a vicinity of the fabric to incorporate halogen atoms that become unbound from the number of halogen-binding links. Hence, enabling the microbiocidal capability can include allowing the microbes in the vicinity of the fabric to incorporate halogen ions that become unbound from a number of binding links for halogen ions.

Binding the first number of halogen atoms to the number of halogen-binding links can, in various embodiments, include binding a number of halogen ions to a number of binding links for halogen ions that are bound to the fabric. For example, a number of chloride ions can be bound to a number of chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric. Accordingly, allowing the microbes to incorporate halogen ions can include allowing the microbes to incorporate chloride ions.

As described in the present disclosure, laundering a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric can, in various embodiments, include providing a fabric (e.g., a fabric-containing article as described elsewhere herein) intended for a particular use to a customer, wherein the fabric includes a first number of halogen atoms bound to a number of halogen-binding links that are bound to the fabric and retrieving the fabric from the customer after a period of time during which the fabric is available for the particular intended use.

Following retrieval of the fabric from the customer, a laundering process can be performed. Such a laundering process can, in various embodiments, include laundering the fabric such that the fabric is cleaned to a level satisfactory for the particular intended use, and recharging a second number of halogen atoms that remains bound to the fabric to a level approximating the first number of halogen atoms.

Providing the fabric intended for the particular use to the customer can, in various embodiments, include providing at least one fabric selected from a group of fabrics that includes: removable door sleeve coverings provided in various colors; towels provided in various colors; general food service garments provided in various colors; butcher coat garments provided in various colors; meat processing facility garments provided in various colors; meat processing facility gloves provided in various colors; kitchen and table linens provided in various colors; pharmaceutical industry garments and fabrics of various types provided in various colors; garments and other articles that include a performance fabric provided in various colors; health care facility garments and fabrics of various types provided in various colors; and/or other embodiments of fabric-containing articles. Cleaning to the fabric to a level satisfactory for the particular intended use can, in various embodiments, include: cleaning to a level determined to be satisfactory by a laundering facility performing the laundering process; cleaning to a level determined to be satisfactory by the customer; and/or cleaning to a level determined to be satisfactory by a regulatory agency. Articles of cleaned and recharged halogen-binding fabric can be provided back to a customer, where such a customer can be a first customer from whom the fabric was retrieved and/or a second customer differing from the first customer.

Providing the fabric having the first number of halogen atoms bound to the number of halogen-binding links and recharging a second number of halogen atoms can, in some embodiments, include providing and charging chloride ions to chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric. Consistent with one or more formulas described in the present disclosure, providing and charging the chloride ions to chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric can include using a number of BioSmart™ chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric. As described with regard to such formulas, providing and recharging the chloride ions to the chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric can include providing a hypochlorite-containing solution at one or more particular periods while performing the laundering process. Providing the hypochlorite-containing solution can include using an Environmental Protection Agency registered bleach that is approved to kill a number of microbes.

Using the Environmental Protection Agency registered bleach that is approved to kill the number of microbes can include enabling the fabric having chloride ions bound to the chloride ion-binding links to have a microbiocidal capability as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency. As such, enabling the fabric having chloride ions bound to the chloride ion-binding links to have the microbiocidal capability can include enabling the laundering process and/or the fabric to be advertised as providing rechargeable antimicrobial protection. For example, the laundering process and/or fabric-containing articles processed using same can be commercially advertised in various ways (e.g., by television, radio, internet, and/or newspapers, among other possibilities) to potential customers seeking such fabric-containing articles having rechargeable microbiocidal capability.

Enabling the antimicrobial capability can result from reversibly binding the first number of chloride ions to the number of chloride ion-binding links so as to allow a number of microbes associated with the fabric to uptake some of the chloride ions. Allowing the number of microbes associated with the fabric to uptake some of the chloride ions can enable the chloride ions to exert a toxic effect on the number of microbes, as appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Allowing the number of microbes associated with the fabric to uptake some of the chloride ions also can result in reducing the first number of halogen atoms (e.g., chloride ions) bound to the number of halogen-binding links to the second number of halogen atoms (e.g., chloride ions) that remains bound to the fabric before recharging.

Recharging can, in some embodiments, include recharging the second number of chloride ions that remains bound to the fabric to the level approximating the first number of chloride ions bound to the fabric for approximately 75 repetitions before the chloride ion-binding capacity of chloride ion-binding links is significantly reduced. That is, due to the stability of the binding of the chloride ion-binding links to the fibers of the fabric accomplished by execution of the empirically-determined formulas described in the present disclosure, no significant loss of the number of chloride ion-binding links (e.g., density of such links per area and/or volume of the fabric) bound to the fabric is measurable through approximately 75 repetitions of laundering and recharging using the empirically-determined formulas described in the present disclosure.

Accordingly, the chloride ion-binding capability of the fabric and, hence, the microbiocidal capability of the fabric-containing article is not significantly reduced for approximately 75 repetitions of laundering and recharging. As such, the cleaned and recharged chloride ion-binding fabric can be repeatedly provided back to the customer, where the customer can, in various embodiments, include a first customer from whom the fabric was retrieved or a second customer differing from the first customer.

Consistent with the descriptions of the present disclosure, a system can be implemented for providing to customers a reusable fabric-containing article. The fabric-containing article can have a number of portions formed from fabric and the fabric-containing article can be provided to a first customer with at least one of the number of fabric portions including a first number of chloride ions bound to a number of chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric portion. The fabric-containing article can be returned to the provider after a period of time.

The period of time can, in various embodiments, be predetermined by an expected rate of reduction of the first number of chloride ions remaining bound to the chloride ion-binding links due to uptake by microbes and/or removal from the fabric due to wear experienced in ordinary use at the customer's facility, among other causes for reduction, and/or predetermined by an expected rate of soiling at the customer's facility, among other reasons for establishing a period of time after which the fabric-containing article will be returned to the provider. In some embodiments, the customer can arrange to have the fabric-containing article returned and/or retrieved on an unscheduled basis for various reasons, such as soiling of the fabric-containing article reaching a particular level, irregular frequency of fabric-containing article usage, among other reasons.

In some embodiments, the fabric-containing article can be provided to the first customer by a laundry service provider and retrieved from the first customer by the laundry service provider. In some embodiments, the fabric-containing article can be provided to the first customer by a laundry service provider and the first customer can leave the fabric-containing article at a location accessible to the laundry service provider. The accessible location can be a designated container or area other than the facility of the laundry service provider, which allows for later retrieval of the fabric-containing article by the laundry service provider or the accessible location can be a designated return location at the facility of the laundry service provider.

The provider of the fabric-containing article also can be the laundry service provider for the fabric-containing article, where providing the fabric-containing article and laundering the fabric-containing article can be performed at the same facility or different facilities, depending upon the circumstances. Laundering the fabric portions of the fabric-containing article can be performed using formulas as described in the present disclosure. Such formulas, or portions thereof, can be encoded in a medium that includes instructions stored in memory thereon that enable executing performance of a laundry process. The laundry process can, in various embodiments, include laundering the fabric such that the fabric is cleaned to a level satisfactory for a particular intended use, and recharging a second number of chloride ions that remains bound to at least one of the fabric portions to a level approximating the first number of chloride ions by providing a hypochlorite-containing solution at one or more particular periods while performing the laundering process. The number of fabric portions can, in various embodiments, be formed from one or more of 100% cotton, 100% synthetic, and/or a blend of cotton and synthetic.

In some embodiments, the system can include the number of chloride ion-binding links being bound to the fabric portion. Binding (i.e., stably attaching) the chloride-binding links to the fabric portion can be performed, by way of example and not by way of limitation, using one or more formulas as described with regard to FIG. 7.

The system as described herein can, in various embodiments, include the fabric-containing article having had at least one fabric portion cleaned to the level satisfactory for the particular intended use and recharged with chloride ions to the level approximating the first number of chloride ions, where the fabric-containing article is provided for reuse to the first customer or a second customer. The instructions can be executed for, in various embodiments, laundering the fabric at one or more particular time periods in an alkaline solution, the alkalinity of which is controlled by adding an alkali quantity determined to substantially retain a binding affinity of the chloride ion-binding links for the chloride ions while cleaning the fabric to the level satisfactory for the particular intended use.

Accordingly, the first number of chloride ions bound to the number of chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the at least one fabric portion can enable the at least one fabric portion to possess an original microbiocidal capability. Recharging the second number of chloride ions can enable the at least one of fabric portion to retain a substantially equivalent microbiocidal capability compared to the original microbiocidal capability.

Low Intensity Wash Formulas

FIG. 4 illustrates an example formula from a number of low intensity wash formulas according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The table 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 shows, as labeled at the top of the table 400, a number of operations, and a number of parameters applicable to such operations, included in one or more embodiments of low intensity wash formulas as described in the present disclosure. The table 400 is presented by way of example and not by way of limitation. That is, the scope of the present disclosure should be determined in light of the description provided herein, and with reference to the appended claims, rather than the contents of table 400 in FIG. 4.

A wash formula at the lower intensity end of the range of such formulas can be used for fabric-containing articles that are not expected to be, do not appear to be, and/or are not actually heavily soiled (e.g., general food service garments in various colors, including white, among others). Such a formula can, by way of example and not by way of limitation, include first treating a wash load with a “flush” 410 of plain water (H₂O) to saturate, loosen, and/or begin to soak out contaminants that are on and/or have penetrated the fabric of the fabric-containing articles. Such contaminants can include “dirt” typically encountered in a work environment and/or microbes associated with such dirt or otherwise encountered. Initial flushes can be particularly beneficial when the fabric-containing article has a remnant of blood on and/or in it. Such flushes can, in some embodiments, be executed to last for periods that are relatively short compared to periods used for more heavily-soiled wash loads (e.g., 2 minutes versus 4 minutes, and the like).

A flush 410 can be executed using H₂O at approximately 110° F. at a high level relative to the capacity of a washing machine in which the flush 410 is to be executed in order reduce the concentration of soluble contaminants to low levels before the aqueous mixture is removed at the end of the flush 410. Removal of aqueous solutions at the end of various stages of the laundering process in the present disclosure can be executed by draining the solution, vacuuming out the solution, and/or spinning to remove the solution.

Following the flush 410, a “break” 415 can be executed in which particular amounts of commercially available detergent and alkali (e.g., containing sodium hydroxide NaOH) products are injected into the volume of the washing machine that already contains the wash load. The particular amounts of detergent and alkali have been predetermined as able to adequately clean the fabric-containing articles that are not heavily soiled without breaking a significant percentage of the bonds between the number of halogen-binding links and the fibers of the fabric-containing articles. In particular, an amount of alkali product can be injected so as to raise the active alkalinity of the break solution to a range of approximately 900-1300 parts per million (ppm) in order to achieve a pH from about 11-13. In some embodiments, particular amounts of detergent and/or alkali products that are lower than used in the break can be injected into the flush to expedite the start of cleaning. In some embodiments, injection of a particular amount of a fabric conditioner into the break 415 can be executed.

As with other compounds and/or products to be injected into the wash container of the washing machine, the particular amounts of detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner to be executed for injection can, in some embodiments, be determined based on fluid volume (e.g., ounces, milliliters, etc.) per weight of fabric-containing articles (e.g., pounds, kilograms, etc.) in the wash load. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the particular wash formula may be programmed to execute injection of 12 ounces of a particular commercially available detergent per hundred pound weight (cwt) of fabric-containing articles in the wash load for fabric-containing articles that are not expected to be heavily soiled.

The break solution in such formulas can be executed at a temperature of approximately 160° F. at a low level relative to the capacity of the washing machine in order to achieve intended concentrations in the break solution without using unnecessarily large amounts of the detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner commercial products. The break can be executed for periods of approximately 10-15 minutes. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate cleaning of the fabric-containing articles.

In such formula embodiments, a “carryover” 420 can be executed. A carryover 420 can be performed by removing a large fraction of the break solution and injecting H₂O to once again achieve a low level such that the residual detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner continues to perform the soil removal process at lower concentrations. The carryover 420 can be executed at approximately 160° F. for around 5 minutes. Once again, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate cleaning of the fabric-containing articles. In some embodiments, more than one carryover can be executed.

In such formula embodiments, another flush 425 can be executed after the carryover 420 to further reduce the concentrations of the detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner products. The flush 425 can be performed after removing the low level of carryover solution and injecting the flush solution (e.g., H₂O) to achieve a high level or the H₂O can be injected into the container with the wash load and the carryover solution to substantially dilute the carryover solution by bringing the low level to a high level. The flush 425 can be executed at approximately 160° F. for around 2 minutes. Once again, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate removing the detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner products from the fabric-containing articles. In some embodiments, more than one flush can be executed after removal of the carryover solution.

After the one or more flushes 425 following the carryover 420 in such formulas, a treatment of the wash load can be executed by injecting a source of halogen atoms into the washing machine container holding the wash load. Treatment with the source of halogen atoms can, in various embodiments, be used to brighten and/or sterilize the laundry, in addition to recharging the halogen-binding links bound to fibers in the fabric-containing portions of the laundry.

In some embodiments, bleach 430 containing a range of particular concentrations of NaOCl can be used as the source of halogen atoms, which in this instance would be chloride ions (Cl⁻). Some brands of commercially available bleach are registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as having disinfectant properties. For example, Clorox® Regular-Bleach #5813-50 is registered with the EPA as being approved to kill bacteria from groups including Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli. In addition, Ecolab® XY12 bleach is approved by the EPA to kill bacteria from the aforementioned groups and also from the Listeria bacterial group. A number of brands of bleach have submitted documentation to the EPA substantiating that their bleaches have sanitization capabilities against members of the aforementioned bacterial groups in addition to: other bacterial groups, such as Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Shigella, Mycobacterium, and/or Legionella, among others; fungal groups, such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Athlete's Foot fungus), Aspergillus niger (molds mildew), among others; and/or viral groups, such as Adenovirus, Rhinovirus, Influenza virus, Hepatovirus, Herpes simplex, Rubella, Poliovirus, Varicella zoster, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and/or Cytomegalovirus, among others.

The EPA has also approved Clorox® Regular-Bleach #5813-50 to be used with Milliken® BioSmart™ as a donor of Cl ions to the “cell link” bonded to the fabric. Milliken & Company® and G&K Services, Inc.® have entered into discussions with the EPA to include the Ecolab® XY12 bleach, and potentially other bleaches, as approved for use as donors of Cl⁻ ions to the BioSmart™ cell link bonded to the fabric

As such, fabric-containing articles having halogen-binding (or, more specifically, chloride ion-binding) links bound to fibers of the fabric portions can be treated with formulas that execute injection of an amount of a particular bleach product (e.g., Clorox® Regular-Bleach #5813-50) to both exert a microbiocidal activity against various types of microbes already on and/or in the fabric and to donate Cl⁻ ions to the BioSmart™ cell link bonded to the fabric. As with other halogen atoms (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and/or iodine), or ions derived therefrom (e.g., fluoride, chloride, bromide, and/or iodide), the Cl⁻ ions donated by the bleach are responsible for providing the agent that confers the microbiocidal effect when the atoms and/or ions are taken up by microbes contaminating the fabric, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Hence, the Cl⁻ ions reversibly bound to the chloride ion-binding links bound to the fabric impart a microbiocidal activity to the fabric-containing article when delivered by the processing and provider facility to a customer. The microbiocidal effect can be exerted upon microbes that contaminate the fabric-containing articles while in possession of the customer and until the predetermined time for retrieval of the fabric-containing articles by the processing and provider facility.

In such formula embodiments, execution of a 10-12% bleach solution (i.e., measured based upon an active hypochlorite concentration) being injected into the wash load container can be performed using a particular amount of bleach 430 and under particular conditions that promote stable binding of the Cl⁻ ions to the chloride ion-binding links and retention of the Cl⁻ ions by the chloride ion-binding links. As determined by thorough empirical experimentation, such stable binding and retention is achieved by injecting the particular amount of bleach that confers (e.g., as measured by titration) an active alkalinity within a range of approximately 125-250 ppm and/or a pH within a range of approximately 9.8-10.8. Execution of the bleach 430 being injected can be performed with the aqueous solution in the washing machine container at a low level to conserve bleach product. In such formula embodiments, the temperature of the mixture of the aqueous solution containing the bleach and the wash load can be maintained at approximately 150° F. for around 10 minutes. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate penetration of the Cl⁻ ions into the fabric-containing articles having the chloride ion-binding links bound to the fibers of the fabric.

In such formula embodiments, two “rinses” 435, 440 can be executed after the bleach exposure 430 to reduce the concentrations of the components of the bleach and other molecules and particles in the solution, in particular the unbound Cl⁻ ions. The first 435 rinse can be performed after removing the low level of bleach solution and injecting the rinse solution (e.g., H₂O) to achieve a high level or the H₂O can be injected into the container with the wash load and the bleach solution to substantially dilute the carryover solution by bringing the low level to a high level. The first rinse 435 can be executed at approximately 135° F. for around 2 minutes. The first rinse solution can be removed and a second rinse solution (e.g., H₂O) can be injected to achieve a high level in the wash load container. The second rinse 440 can be executed at approximately 120° F. for around 2 minutes. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate removing the components of the bleach and other molecules and particles in the solution, in particular the unbound Cl⁻ ions, from the fabric-containing articles.

After the rinses 435, 440 following the bleach exposure 430 in such formulas have been removed, a treatment of the wash load can be executed by injecting a particular amount of an “anti-chlorine” 445 commercial product into the wash container to neutralize residual unbound Cl⁻ ions. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, such an anti-chlorine product can neutralize free Cl⁻ ions by binding to the Cl⁻ ions to create another compound that can be later removed from the wash load and the container along with the Cl⁻ ions making up part of the new compound. The anti-chlorine treatment 445 can be executed at a temperature of approximately 105° F. for around 3 minutes. The anti-chlorine treatment can be executed at a high aqueous level in the washing machine container to promote removal of the unbound Cl⁻ ions from vicinity of the fabric-containing articles. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate removing the unbound Cl⁻ ions from the fabric-containing articles and the vicinity.

After the anti-chlorine treatment 445 in such formulas has been executed, a treatment of the wash load can be executed by injecting a particular amount of “sour” 450 to reduce the pH of the fabric-containing articles in the wash container. A commercially available product can be used as the sour 450, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. By way of example and not by way of limitation, a chemical that can be included in such a product, and that can actively reduce the pH of the aqueous solution and the fabric-containing articles in the wash container, is fluorosilic acid (H₂SiF₆).

Executing injection of the particular amount of sour 450 can be performed to reduce the pH of the fabric-containing articles in the wash container to a level more appropriate for contact with human and/or animal skin and/or to counteract possible negative effects of long-term exposure of fabric to elevated pH. That is, fabric-containing articles retaining an elevated alkaline pH after processing can irritate skin coming into contact with the fabric-containing articles and/or the fabric-containing articles may, for example, eventually evidence yellowing. Execution of the particular amount (e.g., as predetermined by titration) can be performed to bring the final pH of the fabric portion of the fabric-containing articles to a pH range of around 5.5-7.0 and/or reduce the active alkalinity to a level at or below 180 ppm. The final pH of the fabric-containing portion of the article should not be lower than 5.5 in order to prevent irritation (e.g., burning) of skin later coming into contact with the fabric (e.g., after delivery to the customer's facility) and/or to prevent effects limiting the useful lifetime of the fabric-containing article.

The sour treatment 450 can be executed at a temperature of approximately 85° F. for around 5 minutes. The sour treatment can be executed at a low aqueous level in the washing machine container to conserve usage of the sour product. In some circumstances, sour usage can be increased to adjust for high bicarbonate water conditions and/or washing machine distribution characteristics. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate equalized reduction of the pH of the fabric-containing articles.

After the sour treatment 450 in such formulas has been executed, a treatment of the wash load can be executed to “extract” 455 the majority of H₂O and remaining chemicals, products, dirt, contaminants, etc. Such an extract 455 can be executed, among other reasons, to substantially remove H₂O from the fabric-containing articles to increase efficiency of subsequent drying and/or finishing portions of the applicable processing formula. For fabric-containing articles that are not expected to be heavily soiled, the formulas can, in some embodiments, execute the extract 455 by spinning the wash container and the wash load therein at a low speed (e.g., at a number of revolutions per minute (rpm) at which the applied centripetal force is one gravity (g) or lower). The low extract speed can be executed to reduce wrinkling of the fabric-containing articles (e.g., garments). In some embodiments, a high speed (e.g., around 3 g) can be executed to expedite removal of H₂O when potential wrinkling may be a lesser concern (e.g., with towels, aprons, and the like). The removal of H₂O during the extract can, in some embodiments, be expedited by pumping air into the washing machine container and the wash load therein. In such formulas, the extract can be executed by spinning the wash container and the wash load therein for around 3-5 minutes.

Spinning the fabric-containing articles to extract the majority of H₂O therefrom can result in the fabric-containing articles remaining stuck to a wall of the wash container (e.g., a drum) to which the fabric-containing articles were pressed by the centripetal force of the extract 455. After the extract 455 in such formulas has been executed, a “shakeout” 460 of the wash load can, in some embodiments, be executed to loosen fabric-containing articles from the wall of the drum to, for example, allow the fabric-containing articles to fall to the bottom of the drum. A shakeout 460 can be executed using instructions, for example, to cause the spinning of the drum containing the wash load to rapidly decelerate and stop prior to beginning to spin briefly in the opposite direction. The reversal of spin direction can, in various embodiments, occur one or more times. The shakeout 460 can, in some embodiments, be performed in approximately 1.5 minutes.

After executing the shakeout step 460 and/or the extract step 455 in the appropriate formula, the wash load containing the fabric-containing articles can, in some embodiments, be removed from the washing machine and deposited in a machine for drying same (not shown). Before, during, and/or after drying, execution of various finishing operations (not shown) can be performed on the fabric-containing articles. Drying and/or finishing can be performed using various commercially available machines, techniques, and/or products, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. The load size limit (e.g., in pounds of dry fabric-containing articles) of a particular drying machine to be utilized can, in some embodiments, be a determinant of the weight of fabric-containing articles to be loaded in the washing machine before the first step of the formula (e.g., before the flush 410).

High Intensity Wash Formulas

FIG. 5 illustrates an example formula from a number of high intensity wash formulas according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The table 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 shows, as labeled at the top of the table 500, a number of operations, and a number of parameters applicable to such operations, included in one or more embodiments of low intensity wash formulas as described in the present disclosure. The table 500 is presented by way of example and not by way of limitation. That is, the scope of the present disclosure should be determined in light of the description provided herein, and with reference to the appended claims, rather than the contents of table 500 in FIG. 5.

As described in the present disclosure, the intensity of laundry processing can be at least partially determined by the perceived, anticipated, and or actual degree of soiling of the particular fabric-containing articles and/or the intended purpose to which the fabric-containing articles were or could have been employed while in possession of the customer, among other factors. By way of example and not by way of limitation, white service coats and/or gloves used by workers while in the slaughter area of a meat processing facility may actually have, or be expected to have, been heavily soiled while in possession of the customer before being retrieved to the laundry processing facility.

As such, one or more specific formulas can, in various embodiments, be formulated to be executed in laundering the fabric of such potentially heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles that have higher intensity of certain parameters (e.g., concentration of and/or length of exposure to alkali, detergent, conditioner, and/or bleach, among others) than formulas, as described herein, to be executed in laundering fabric-containing articles that may actually be, or be expected to be, less heavily soiled during their intended use. Hence, by way of example and not by way of limitation, heavily soiled food service garments and/or gloves that are white or other colors and that are used, for instance, in the slaughter area of a meat processing facility may be assigned to one or more specific wash formulas with higher intensity of certain parameters (e.g., concentration of and/or length of exposure to alkali, detergent, conditioner, and/or bleach, among others) to be executed in laundering, which are premised upon the expectation that the garments are more heavily soiled than, for instance, general food service garments.

As described with regard to processing of less heavily soiled fabric-containing articles, recharging the halogen-binding links bound to the fabric portions of the more heavily soiled fabric-containing articles, as shown in box 225 of FIG. 2, can utilize a number of wash formulas that are stored for executing various operations that can differ depending upon which halogen atom, or ion derived therefrom, is to be bound to the halogen-binding links. In various embodiments, the halogen-binding links may or may not be specific for one or more of the halogen atoms and/or ions. In some embodiments, chloride ions can be provided for recharging the halogen-binding links from an aqueous solution of NaOCl. As such, bleaches with potentially varying concentrations of the active sodium hypochlorite molecule can, in some embodiments, be used in a number of laundering steps for brightening the fabric, sanitizing the fabric, and/or recharging the halogen-binding links bound to the heavily soiled fabric.

As shown in table 500 of FIG. 5, a wash formula at the higher intensity end of the range of such formulas can be used for fabric-containing articles that are expected to be, appear to be, and/or are actually heavily soiled. Such a formula can, by way of example and not by way of limitation, include first treating a wash load with one or more “alkali flushes” 510, 520, 525 containing, in addition to H₂O, a particular amount of a commercially available product that includes a reagent (e.g., NaOH) that raises the alkalinity (i.e., raises the pH) of the aqueous solution used for the alkali flushes 510, 520, 525. Alkali flushes 510, 520, 525 can be executed to more effectively saturate, loosen, and/or begin to soak out contaminants that are on and/or have penetrated the fabric of the fabric-containing articles compared to, for instance, flushes of heavily soiled fabric-containing articles with plain H₂O. Such contaminants can include “dirt” typically encountered in a work environment and/or microbes associated with such dirt or otherwise encountered. Alkali flushes 510, 520, 525 can be particularly beneficial, by way of example and not by way of limitation, when the fabric-containing article has blood, urine, feces, particles of meat, and the like, on or in it. Alkali flushes 510, 520, 525 can, in various embodiments, be executed to last for periods that are relatively long compared to flush periods used for less heavily-soiled wash loads (e.g., 4 minutes versus 2 minutes, and the like).

The one or more alkali flushes 510, 520, 525 can be executed at a range of temperatures (e.g., from around 90° F. to around 140° F.) at a high level relative to the capacity of a washing machine in which the flush is to be executed in order reduce the concentration of soluble contaminants to low levels before the aqueous mixture is removed at the end of the flush. The alkali flushes 510, 520, 525 can, in various embodiments, be executed to have active alkali titrations in a range of around 100-800 ppm active alkalinity. The active alkalinity of a sequence of alkali flushes 510, 520, 525 can, in some embodiments, progressively increase, although the active alkalinity of such flushes generally remains below that achieved during a subsequent break step of the formula, as described herein. In some embodiments, one or more flushes 515 with plain H₂O can be executed, for example, at a higher temperature (e.g., 120° F.) and for a longer time (e.g., 3-4 minutes) than used for less heavily soiled fabric-containing articles. Removal of aqueous solutions at the end of various types of flushes 510, 515, 520, 525 in the laundering process can be executed by draining the solution, vacuuming out the solution, and/or spinning to remove the solution.

Following the initial flushes 510, 515, 520, 525, a break 530 can be executed in which particular amounts of commercially available detergent and alkali products are injected into the volume of the washing machine that already contains the wash load. The particular amounts of detergent and alkali have been predetermined as able to adequately clean the fabric-containing articles that are heavily soiled without breaking a significant percentage of the bonds between the number of halogen-binding links and the fibers of the fabric-containing articles. That is, the particular amounts of detergent and alkali can be elevated compared to the particular amounts of detergent and alkali used for less heavily soiled fabric-containing articles. In particular, an amount of alkali product can be injected so as to raise the active alkalinity of the break solution to a range of approximately 900-1650 ppm in order to achieve a pH from about 11-13. In some embodiments, injection of a particular amount of a fabric conditioner into the break 530 can be executed, which also can be an amount that is greater than that used with less heavily soiled fabric-containing articles.

As with other compounds and/or products to be injected into the wash container of the washing machine, the particular amounts of detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner to be executed for injection can, in some embodiments, be determined based on fluid volume per weight of fabric-containing articles in the wash load. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the particular wash formula may be programmed to execute injection of around 14-17 ounces of a particular commercially available detergent per cwt of fabric-containing articles in the wash load for fabric-containing articles that are expected to be and/or are heavily soiled, as compared to 12 ounces per cwt for fabric-containing articles not expected to be heavily soiled.

The break solution in such formulas can be executed at a temperature in a range of around 165-180° F. at a low level relative to the capacity of the washing machine in order to achieve intended concentrations in the break solution without using unnecessarily large amounts of the detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner commercial products. The break can be executed for periods of approximately 10-15 minutes. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate cleaning of the fabric-containing articles.

In some formula embodiments for heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles, a carryover 535 can be executed. The carryover 535 can be performed by removing a large fraction of the break solution and injecting H₂O to once again achieve a low level such that the residual detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner continues to perform the soil removal process at lower concentrations. The carryover 535 can be executed at approximately 180° F. for around 5 minutes. Once again, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate cleaning of the fabric-containing articles. In some embodiments, a flush (not shown) with H₂O can be executed immediately after the break to substantially remove the detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner before execution of subsequent formula components.

In various embodiments, depending upon how heavily-soiled the fabric-containing articles are expected to be and/or actually are, the formula can include execution of a “suds” step 540 after the carryover step 535 and/or the break step 530. For a particular category of heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles (e.g., white food service coats used in the slaughter area of a meat processing facility), a flush (not shown) following the break can be followed by execution of a suds step 540 in which particular amounts of detergent and conditioner can be injected into the container with the wash load having a low level. In such formulas, the suds step 540 can be executed at approximately 165° F. for around 8 minutes with an active alkalinity of around 440-550 ppm.

In some wash formulas intended for even more heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles (e.g., white gloves used in the slaughter area of a meat processing facility), the suds step 540 can immediately follow the carryover step 535 without an intervening flush. Such formulas can include execution of injection of particular amounts of detergent, conditioner, and alkali into the container with the wash load having a low level. In such formulas, the suds step 540 can be executed at approximately 180° F. for around 8 minutes with an active alkalinity of around 1000-1250 ppm. Once again, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate removing the detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner products from the fabric-containing articles.

In such formula embodiments, a number of flushes 545, 550 can be executed after the suds step 540 to reduce the concentrations of the detergent, conditioner, and/or alkali products. The flushes 545, 550 can be performed after removing the low level of suds solution and injecting the flush solution (e.g., H₂O) to achieve a high level or the H₂O can be injected into the container with the wash load and the carryover solution to substantially dilute the carryover solution by bringing the low level to a high level. The flushes 545, 550 can be executed at approximately 160-170° F. for around 2 minutes each. Once again, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate removing the detergent, alkali, and/or conditioner products from the fabric-containing articles.

After the one or more flushes 545, 550 following the suds step 540 in such formulas, a treatment of the wash load can be executed by injecting a source of halogen atoms into the washing machine container holding the wash load. Treatment with the source of halogen atoms can, in various embodiments, be used to brighten and/or sterilize the laundry, in addition to recharging the halogen-binding links bound to fibers in the fabric-containing portions of the laundry.

In some embodiments, bleach 555 containing a range of particular concentrations of NaOCl can be used as the source of chloride ions (Cl⁻). Acceptable brands of commercially available bleach having documented microbiocidal activities are described elsewhere in the present disclosure. The reversible binding of such Cl ions to the cell link bonded to the fabric also is described elsewhere in the present disclosure.

In such formula embodiments, execution of a 10-12% bleach 555 solution being injected into the wash load container can be performed using a particular amount of bleach and under particular conditions that promote stable binding of the Cl⁻ ions to the chloride ion-binding links and retention of the Cl⁻ ions by the chloride ion-binding links. In various embodiments, execution of injection of alkali and/or conditioner can be performed simultaneously, or around the same time as, injection of the bleach to further deal with the heavily-soiled condition of the fabric-containing articles in the wash load. As determined by thorough empirical experimentation, stable binding and retention of the Cl⁻ ions can be maintained by injecting particular amounts of bleach, conditioner, and/or alkali that confer (e.g., as measured by titration) an active alkalinity within a range of approximately 250-550 ppm and/or a pH within a range of approximately 9.8-10.8.

Execution of the bleach, conditioner, and/or alkali being injected can be performed with the aqueous solution in the washing machine container at a low level to conserve bleach, conditioner, and/or alkali products. In such formula embodiments, the temperature of the mixture of the aqueous solution containing the bleach, conditioner, and/or alkali and the wash load is maintained at approximately 155° F. for around 12 minutes. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate penetration of the Cl⁻ ions into the fabric-containing articles having the chloride ion-binding links bound to the fibers of the fabric.

In some wash formulas intended for more heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles, a second bleach exposure step 560 can immediately follow the first bleach exposure step 555 without an intervening flush. Such formulas can include execution of injection of particular amounts of 10-12% bleach solution into the detergent, conditioner, and alkali already in the container with the wash load having a low level. In such formulas, the second bleach step 560 can be executed at approximately 150° F. for around 10 minutes. Injecting the additional bleach can raise the active alkalinity of the solution from a range of around 500-550 ppm to a level as high as approximately 700 ppm. During the bleaching steps 555, 560, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate penetration of the Cl⁻ ions, the conditioner, and/or the alkali into the fabric-containing articles.

In such formula embodiments, two rinses 565, 570 can be executed after the bleach exposures 555, 560 to reduce the concentrations of the components of the bleach, the conditioner, and/or the alkali, among other molecules and particles in the solution, in particular the unbound Cl⁻ ions. The first rinse 565 can be performed after removing the low level of bleach solution and injecting the rinse solution (e.g., H₂O) to achieve a high level or the H₂O can be injected into the container with the wash load and the bleach solution to substantially dilute the carryover solution by bringing the low level to a high level. The first rinse 565 can be executed at approximately 135° F. for around 2 minutes. The first rinse solution can be removed and a second rinse solution (e.g., H₂O) can be injected to achieve a high level in the wash load container. The second rinse 570 can be executed at approximately 120° F. for around 2 minutes. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate removing the components of the bleach and other molecules and particles in the solution, in particular the unbound Cl⁻ ions, from the fabric-containing articles.

After the rinses 565, 570 following the bleach exposures 555, 560 in such formulas for heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles have been removed, a treatment of the wash load can be executed by injecting a particular amount of an anti-chlorine 575 commercial product into the wash container to neutralize residual unbound Cl⁻ ions. As described in the present disclosure with regard to less heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles, the anti-chlorine treatment 575 can be executed at a temperature of approximately 105° F. for around 3 minutes. The anti-chlorine treatment 575 can be executed at a high aqueous level in the washing machine container to promote removal of the unbound Cl⁻ ions from vicinity of the fabric-containing articles. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate removing the unbound Cl⁻ ions from the fabric-containing articles and the vicinity.

After the anti-chlorine treatment 575 in such formulas has been executed, a treatment of the wash load can be executed by injecting a particular amount of sour 580 to reduce the pH of the fabric-containing articles in the wash container, as described in the present disclosure with regard to less heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles. The sour treatment 580 can be executed at a temperature of approximately 90° F. for around 5 minutes. The sour treatment 580 can be executed at a low aqueous level in the washing machine container to conserve usage of the sour product. In some circumstances, sour usage can be increased to adjust for high bicarbonate water conditions and/or washing machine distribution characteristics. In some embodiments, the washing machine's container for the wash load can be agitated and/or spun to facilitate equalized reduction of the pH of the fabric-containing articles.

After the sour treatment 580 in such formulas for heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles has been executed, a treatment of the wash load can be executed to extract 585 the majority of H₂O and/or remaining chemicals, products, dirt, contaminants, etc. As described in the present disclosure with regard to less heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles, such an extract 585 can be executed, among other reasons, to substantially remove H₂O from the fabric-containing articles to increase efficiency of subsequent drying and/or finishing portions of the applicable processing formula. For fabric-containing articles that were expected to be and/or actually were heavily soiled, the wash formulas can, in some embodiments, execute the extract 585 by spinning the wash container and the wash load therein at a high speed (e.g., around 3 g) to expedite removal of H₂O when potential wrinkling is not a major concern (e.g., with towels, aprons, white service coats and/or gloves used by workers while in the slaughter area of a meat processing facility, and the like). The removal of H₂O during the extract 585 can, in some embodiments, be expedited by pumping air into the washing machine container and the wash load therein. In such formulas, the extract 585 can be executed by spinning the wash container and the wash load therein for around 3-5 minutes.

As described in the present disclosure with regard to less heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles, spinning the fabric-containing articles to extract 585 the majority of H₂O therefrom can result in the fabric-containing articles remaining stuck to a wall of the wash container (e.g., a drum) to which the fabric-containing articles were pressed by the centripetal force of the extract. After the extract 585 in formulas used for heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles has been executed, a shakeout 590 of the wash load can, in some embodiments, be executed to loosen fabric-containing articles from the wall of the drum to, for example, allow the fabric-containing articles to fall to the bottom of the drum. A shakeout 590 can be executed using instructions to cause the spinning of the drum containing the wash load to, for example, rapidly decelerate and stop prior to beginning to spin briefly in the opposite direction. The reversal of spin direction can, in various embodiments, occur one or more times. The shakeout 590 can, in some embodiments, be performed in approximately 1.5 minutes. After executing the shakeout step 590 and/or the extract step 585 in the appropriate formula, the wash load containing the fabric-containing articles can, in some embodiments, be removed from the washing machine and deposited in a machine for drying same (not shown), as described in the present disclosure with regard to less heavily-soiled fabric-containing articles.

The wash formulas illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 and described in the present disclosure are examples of embodiments of such wash formulas that are included in the scope of the present disclosure. As such, the low intensity and high intensity wash formula embodiments are presented by way of example and not by way of limitation. Hence, the low intensity and high intensity wash formula embodiments presented may not represent the endpoints (e.g., lowest and/or highest) in the range of wash formula intensities with regard to concentrations of products, active alkalinity levels, operation time periods and/or temperatures. Such parameters are presented to represent levels of such parameters in wash formulas that can be used to achieve results consistent with the present disclosure, for example, cleaning of fabric-containing articles to a satisfactory level (e.g., to the customer, the processing and/or provider facility, and/or the appropriate regulatory agency) without breaking a significant percentage of the bonds between the number of halogen-binding links and the fibers of the fabric-containing articles. In addition, one or more media, as described in the present disclosure, can include instructions (e.g., stored in memory thereon) that enable executing performance of a number of wash formulas less than, equal to, or greater than the number of wash formulas illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 and described in the present disclosure.

Binding of BioSmart™ to Fabric-Containing Articles

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a method for binding chloride ion-binding links to a fabric according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Unless explicitly stated, the formulas and/or method embodiments described below are not constrained to particular amounts, concentrations, and/or products or a particular order or sequence. Additionally, some of the embodiments described below, or elements thereof, can occur or be performed at the same, or at least substantially the same, point in time.

Based upon issued patents U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,756 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,576,154, assigned to Milliken & Company® of Spartanburg, S.C., an arrangement was made with G&K Services, Inc.®, of Minnetonka, Minn. The arrangement included Milliken & Company® providing G&K Services, Inc.®, with the patented BioSmart™ cell link so that G&K Services, Inc.®, could attempt to develop procedures for stably attaching (i.e., binding) a sufficient number of BioSmart™ molecules to fabric fibers in fabric-containing articles (e.g., towels and the like) to provide a rechargeable microbiocidal capacity through halogen-binding that was not significantly reduced by repeated washes in a commercial laundry-scale setting. Through a lengthy sequence of empirical trials, inventors from G&K Services, Inc.®, were able to increase the stability of the binding of the BioSmart™ molecules to the fabric. Consequently, the rechargeable microbiocidal capacity of the fabric was increased such that it lasts through approximately 75 commercial laundry cycles that include parameters as described in the present disclosure (e.g., detergent, alkali, conditioner, heat, agitation, and the like) compared to an original duration through only 5-6 commercial laundry cycles.

An alternative name for the BioSmart™ molecules, as provided by Milliken & Company™ in 55 gallon barrels for industrial use, is Millitex™ CL-612. Hence, the following description of binding of such to fabric in the G&K Services, Inc. a commercial laundry setting refers to Millitex™ CL-612 as the source of the halogen-binding cell links that become bound to the fabric fibers and which are rechargeable during repeated wash cycles in a commercial laundry setting using particular formulas developed for such. Fabric-containing articles (e.g., garments, towels, removable door sleeves, and the like) can be treated, in various embodiments, by executing a sequence of stored instructions for a particular formula that stably binds a number of halogen-binding links to the fabric fibers in a commercial laundry setting.

Hence, in various embodiments of the present disclosure and as illustrated in FIG. 6, binding of chloride ion-binding links to a fabric can be executed, at least in part, by substantially removing a fabric sizing agent (e.g., an aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose, starch, polyvinyl alcohol, among others, with which the fabric has previously been conditioned) from the fabric to relieve fibers of the fabric from a stiffening effect of the sizing agent 610. Removal of the sizing agent can, in various embodiments, be performed prior to or simultaneously with binding a number of chloride ion-binding links to the loosened fibers of the fabric 620. In some embodiments, binding the number of chloride ion-binding links to the fibers of the fabric can use one or more of substantially 100% cotton, substantially 100% synthetic, and a blend of cotton and synthetic for the fibers of the fabric, which can include using substantially 100% cotton for the fibers of a towel.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example formula for binding chloride ion-binding links to a fabric according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 shows, as labeled at the top of table 700, a number of operations, and a number of parameters applicable to such operations, which can be included in one or more embodiments of wash formulas as described in the present disclosure or which can be performed separately from such wash formulas. The table 700 is presented by way of example and not by way of limitation. That is, the scope of the present disclosure should be determined in light of the description provided herein, and with reference to the appended claims, rather than the contents of table 700 in FIG. 7.

As such, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a treatment formula (e.g., as illustrated in table 700) can be executed by loading 600-800 pounds (lbs) of untreated fabric-containing articles (e.g., cotton towels that, in some embodiments, can be formed from substantially 100% cotton) into a washing machine (e.g., a 675 lb Braun® machine). Treatment with the formula can be initiated with a rinse 710 of, for example, the towels being executed inside the wash container of the washing machine. The rinse 710 can, in some embodiments, be executed using plain H₂O at a temperature of approximately 140° F. for around 3 minutes at a low level (e.g., 3 inches) relative to the capacity of the washing machine.

Subsequent to the rinse, a break 720 can be executed by injection, for example, of 32-64 ounces of Millitex CL-612 per cwt of towels. As such, in some embodiments, for 600 lbs (e.g., 3 bales) of towels, 384 ounces (i.e., 3 gallons) of Millitex™ CL-612 can be injected into the wash container of the washing machine or, for 800 lbs (e.g., 4 bales) of towels, 512 ounces (i.e., 4 gallons) of Millitex™ CL-612 can be injected into the wash container of the washing machine. The break 720 can, in various embodiments, be executed after removing the rinse solution from the machine (e.g., by draining, spinning, and/or vacuum, and the like) or by injecting the Millitex™ CL-612 into the rinse solution. The break 720 can be executed using the Millitex™ CL-612 solution at a temperature of approximately 140° F. for around 15 minutes at a low level (e.g., 3 inches) relative to the capacity of the washing machine. In some embodiments, the break time can count down without executing the temperature being maintained as high as approximately 140° F. or the Millitex™ CL-612 solution being maintained as a particular low level.

After the break time has expired, the residual Millitex™ CL-612 solution can be removed by executing an extract 730 (e.g., removal) of such from the wash container of the washing machine. Through empirical testing, a determination has been made that the binding of the Millitex™ CL-612 halogen-binding molecules to the fibers of the fabric has an improved efficiency and stability of such binding when the residual Millitex™ CL-612 solution is extracted by draining, rather than spinning. That is, during execution of the extract 730, draining the residual Millitex™ CL-612 solution from the load of towels can result in fewer bonds being broken between the Millitex™ CL-612 halogen-binding molecules and the fibers of the fabric, and/or can promote formation of stronger, longer-lasting bonds, than achieved by spinning the container carrying the wash load to remove the residual Millitex™ CL-612 solution.

However, in some embodiments, after the volume of the residual Millitex™ CL-612 solution has been substantially extracted by draining, the small remaining volume can be removed by extracting such small volume by spinning (i.e., executing an extract step as previously described). Such an extract can be executed for approximately 2 minutes, as shown at 730 in table 700. In some embodiments, a high speed (e.g., around 3 g) can be executed to expedite removal of the residual Millitex™ CL-612 solution when potential wrinkling may be a lesser concern (e.g., with towels, aprons, and the like).

Spinning the towels to extract the residual Millitex™ CL-612 solution therefrom can result in the towels remaining stuck to a wall of the wash container (e.g., a drum) to which the towels were pressed by the centripetal force of the extract. After the extract 730 has been executed, a shakeout 740 of the wash load can, in some embodiments, be executed to loosen fabric-containing articles from the wall of the drum to, for example, allow the fabric-containing articles to fall to the bottom of the drum. The shakeout 740 can be executed using instructions, for example, to cause the spinning of the drum containing the wash load to rapidly decelerate and stop prior to beginning to spin briefly in the opposite direction. The reversal of spin direction can, in various embodiments, occur one or more times. The shakeout 740 can, in some embodiments, be performed in approximately 1.5 minutes.

Following the shakeout 740 and/or extract 730, the treated fabric-containing articles (e.g., cotton towels) can remain moist from the residual Millitex™ CL-612 solution. Towels, for example, having a number of BioSmart™ molecules bonded to the cotton fibers can undergo a cure 750. The cure 750 can be performed by, in some embodiments, executing instructions for removal of the towels, for example, from the washing machine and subsequent drying (e.g., by tumbling) of the towels at a temperature of approximately 180° F. for a period of time sufficient to dry the towels.

After the cure 750, the weight of each individual treated fabric-containing article (e.g., a cotton towel) can be increased, compared to the weight before execution of the formula, by approximately 70% due to binding of the number of BioSmart™ molecules caused by treatment with the Millitex™ CL-612 solution, as described in the present disclosure. The density (e.g., number of molecules bound per area and/or volume of fabric) of the BioSmart™ molecules bound to the fabric can be determined by testing after, for example, execution of the cure 750 step of the formula. Such a density determination can be used as a baseline for future determinations of the stability of binding of the BioSmart™ molecules to fibers of the fabric.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as described with regard to FIG. 6, improvement of the efficacy of the formulas for treating fabric-containing articles (e.g., towels) can be accomplished. Instructions can, in various embodiments, be executed for pretreating (e.g., before or instead of execution of the rinse step 710) the fabric-containing articles in order to remove the fabric sizing agent, with which the fabric-containing articles have previously been conditioned, prior to treatment with the Millitex™ CL-612 solution during the break 720. The sizing agent is commonly applied to commercially marketed and/or laundered fabrics (e.g., garments, towels, and the like) to impart a desired stiffness thereto. Empirical testing demonstrates that removing the sizing agent improves the accessibility of the fabric fibers to binding of the BioSmart™ molecules and/or the accessibility of the bound BioSmart™ molecules to binding with halogen atoms (e.g., Cl⁻ ions contributed by NaOCl in bleach) by loosening the fabric and/or the fibers therein compared to the state prior to removing the sizing agent.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same techniques can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and, nonetheless, be covered by the present disclosure. That is, this disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations and/or variations of various embodiments of the disclosure. As one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate upon reading this disclosure, various embodiments of the disclosure can be performed with one or more devices, device types, facilities, and/or system environments, including networked environments.

Reference is made to various specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced herein. These embodiments are described with sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure. It is to be understood, however, that changes may be implemented to methodological, structural, computing, logical, and electrical components to achieve the same results and still remain within the teachings of the present disclosure.

It is to be understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art upon reviewing the above description. It is to be further understood that the use of the terms “a”, “an”, “one or more”, “a number of”, or “at least one” are all to interpreted as meaning one or more of an item is present, while “a plurality of” is to be interpreted as meaning more than one of an item is present.

The applicability of the various embodiments of the present disclosure includes other applications in which the above methods, devices, and systems are used, for example, in implementations other than computer systems with microprocessors. Therefore, the scope of various embodiments of the present disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure need to use more features than are expressly recited in each claim.

Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. 

1. A method for providing a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric, comprising: binding a first number of halogen atoms to a number of halogen-binding links that are bound to a fabric before the fabric is provided to a customer; and retrieving the fabric after a period of time in order to recharge a second number of halogen atoms that remains bound to the fabric to a level approximating the first number of halogen atoms.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the fabric after the period of time includes retrieving the fabric from a first customer.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method includes providing the recharged halogen-binding fabric to the first customer or to a second customer differing from the first customer.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein binding the first number of halogen atoms to the number of halogen-binding links includes binding a number of halogen ions to a number of binding links for halogen ions that are bound to the fabric.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein binding the first number of halogen atoms to the number of halogen-binding links includes binding a number of chloride ions to a number of chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the rechargeable halogen-binding fabric to the customer includes providing a fabric having a microbiocidal capability resulting from the first number of halogen atoms being bound to the number of halogen-binding links.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the fabric having the microbiocidal capability includes reversibly binding the first number of halogen atoms to the number of halogen-binding links.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein reversibly binding the first number of halogen atoms to the number of halogen-binding links includes enabling the microbiocidal capability by allowing microbes in a vicinity of the fabric to incorporate halogen atoms that become unbound from the number of halogen-binding links.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein enabling the microbiocidal capability includes allowing the microbes in the vicinity of the fabric to incorporate halogen ions that become unbound from a number of binding links for halogen ions.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein allowing the microbes to incorporate halogen ions includes allowing the microbes to incorporate chloride ions.
 11. A method of laundering a rechargeable halogen-binding fabric, comprising: providing a fabric intended for a particular use to a customer, wherein the fabric includes a first number of halogen atoms bound to a number of halogen-binding links that are bound to the fabric; retrieving the fabric from the customer after a period of time during which the fabric is available for the particular intended use; and performing a laundering process, wherein the laundering process includes: laundering the fabric such that the fabric is cleaned to a level satisfactory for the particular intended use; and recharging a second number of halogen atoms that remains bound to the fabric to a level approximating the first number of halogen atoms.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the fabric intended for the particular use to the customer includes providing at least one fabric selected from a group of fabrics that includes: removable door sleeve coverings provided in various colors; towels provided in various colors; general food service garments provided in various colors; butcher coat garments provided in various colors; meat processing facility garments provided in various colors; meat processing facility gloves provided in various colors; kitchen and table linens provided in various colors; pharmaceutical industry garments and fabrics of various types provided in various colors; garments and other articles that include a performance fabric provided in various colors; and health care facility garments and fabrics of various types provided in various colors.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein cleaning to the level satisfactory for the particular intended use includes: cleaning to a level determined to be satisfactory by a laundering facility performing the laundering process; cleaning to a level determined to be satisfactory by the customer; and cleaning to a level determined to be satisfactory by a regulatory agency.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the method includes providing the cleaned and recharged halogen-binding fabric to the customer, wherein the customer includes a first customer from whom the fabric was retrieved or a second customer differing from the first customer.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the fabric having the first number of halogen atoms bound to the number of halogen-binding links and recharging a second number of halogen atoms includes providing and charging chloride ions to chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein providing and charging the chloride ions to chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric includes using a number of BioSmart™ chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein providing and recharging the chloride ions to the chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric includes providing a hypochlorite-containing solution at one or more particular periods while performing the laundering process.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the hypochlorite-containing solution includes using an Environmental Protection Agency registered bleach that is approved to kill a number of microbes.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein using the Environmental Protection Agency registered bleach that is approved to kill the number of microbes includes enabling the fabric having chloride ions bound to the chloride ion-binding links to have a microbiocidal capability as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein enabling the fabric having chloride ions bound to the chloride ion-binding links to have the microbiocidal capability includes enabling the laundering process and the fabric to be advertised as providing rechargeable antimicrobial protection.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein enabling the antimicrobial capability includes reversibly binding the first number of chloride ions to the number of chloride ion-binding links so as to allow a number of microbes associated with the fabric to uptake some of the chloride ions.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein allowing the number of microbes associated with the fabric to uptake some of the chloride ions includes enabling the chloride ions to exert a toxic effect on the number of microbes.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein allowing the number of microbes associated with the fabric to uptake some of the chloride ions enables reducing the first number of halogen atoms bound to the number of halogen-binding links to the second number of halogen atoms that remains bound to the fabric before recharging.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein recharging includes recharging the second number of chloride ions that remains bound to the fabric to the level approximating the first number of chloride ions bound to the fabric for approximately 75 repetitions before the chloride ion-binding capacity of chloride ion-binding links is significantly reduced.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the method includes providing the cleaned and recharged chloride ion-binding fabric to the customer, wherein the customer includes a first customer from whom the fabric was retrieved or a second customer differing from the first customer.
 26. A system for providing to customers a reusable fabric-containing article, comprising: the fabric-containing article having a number of portions formed from fabric; the fabric-containing article being provided to a first customer with at least one of the number of fabric portions including a first number of chloride ions bound to a number of chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the fabric portion; the fabric-containing article being returned after a period of time; and a medium including instructions stored in memory thereon that enable executing performance of a laundry process comprising; laundering the fabric such that the fabric is cleaned to a level satisfactory for a particular intended use; and recharging a second number of chloride ions that remains bound to at least one of the fabric portions to a level approximating the first number of chloride ions by providing a hypochlorite-containing solution at one or more particular periods while performing the laundering process.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the system includes the number of chloride ion-binding links being bound to the fabric portion.
 28. The system of claim 26, wherein the number of fabric portions are formed from one or more of 100% cotton, 100% synthetic, and a blend of cotton and synthetic.
 29. The system of claim 26, wherein the system includes the fabric-containing article being provided to the first customer by a laundry service provider and retrieved from the first customer by the laundry service provider.
 30. The system of claim 26, wherein the system includes the fabric-containing article being provided to the first customer by a laundry service provider and the first customer leaves the fabric-containing article at a location accessible to the laundry service provider.
 31. The system of claim 26, wherein the system includes the fabric-containing article having had at least one fabric portion cleaned to the level satisfactory for the particular intended use and recharged with chloride ions to the level approximating the first number of chloride ions, wherein the fabric-containing article is provided for reuse to the first customer or a second customer.
 32. The system of claim 26, wherein the system includes laundering the fabric at one or more particular time periods in an alkaline solution, the alkalinity of which is controlled by adding an alkali quantity determined to substantially retain a binding affinity of the chloride ion-binding links for the chloride ions while cleaning the fabric to the level satisfactory for the particular intended use.
 33. The system of claim 26, wherein the first number of chloride ions bound to the number of chloride ion-binding links that are bound to the at least one fabric portion enables the at least one fabric portion to possess an original microbiocidal capability.
 34. The system of claim 33, wherein recharging the second number of chloride ions enables the at least one of fabric portion to retain a substantially equivalent microbiocidal capability compared to the original microbiocidal capability.
 35. A method for binding chloride ion-binding links to a fabric, comprising: substantially removing a sizing agent from the fabric to relieve fibers of the fabric from a stiffening effect of the sizing agent; and binding a number of chloride ion-binding links to the loosened fibers of the fabric.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein binding the number of chloride ion-binding links to the fibers of the fabric includes using one or more of substantially 100% cotton, substantially 100% synthetic, and a blend of cotton and synthetic for the fibers of the fabric.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein using substantially 100% cotton for the fibers of the fabric includes using substantially 100% cotton for the fibers of a towel. 